Words... what do they all mean?

Q&A MEME
- Leave a comment saying, "Die Fragen, Fraulein!" ;) (or, you know, whatever)
- I'll respond by asking you five questions to satisfy my curiosity.
- Update your journal with the answers to your questions.
- Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions.

from trustme1013
1: World traveler that you are, if you could have it your way, what bits of Kiwi life would you incorporate to US life?
Oh goodness. I especially love all the little environment-friendly things that are just a given there and how there's no (or very little), "you're just an alarmist, tree-hugging hippie" attitude in backlash. New Zealanders know they have something beautiful and precious and they do their damnedest to take care of it. I like both the sentiment and the practice.

I also love the profusion of skirts and dresses. I never really thought about it before (though I had been told Americans are peculiar in the omnipresence of blue jeans), but the first time I went I was surprised by how many women I saw doing everyday, normal stuff in skirts, where I would have expected pants (be they jeans, capris, khakis, whatever). I don't know if that's because the feminist movement didn't hit there as hard or what, but I like it. Whenever I'm there I take the opportunity to buy cute and simple skirts and dresses, 'cause it's hard to find ones here that aren't, well, dressy.

2: What do you miss most about Cottey? (Besides me, of course!)
I miss the suite life, the socializing, the built-in circle of friends who were always nearby so I never felt awkward or that I was going out of my way or imposing myself upon them just to hang out and do... really not much of anything. I miss the five-movies-for-five-bucks weekends for those of us who were staying in the suite. I miss the goofy, housekeeper-angering shenanigans like upending the couch and making a tent (no we are not too old for this!). I miss coloring books as stress relief during finals week (again, not too old). I miss Raney and not having to think about what to fix for dinner. I even actually kind of miss the weather, the extreme differences in the seasons: the really hot and muggy summer and yes even the bitterly cold winter. If it's going to be cold, dammit, be COLD. Namby-pamby forties and fifties is just lame. If I'm going to bundle up in a coat and scarf I want it to be worth it. Also snow. Cold without snow is pointless.

3: What is it about Russian that rocks your socks?
Hee. It's just beautiful. And I found it much easier to learn (and remember) than German because it sticks to its rules of grammar better. I think the teacher plays a big role, too. I liked German with Dr. Pearson but when I took it out here it was meh. So I think I lucked out with a Профессор who made Russian very, very fun to learn. Also the alphabet is just plain cool. ;)

4: What one book would you have as required reading in school?
Hm. There's so much that already is required reading, it's hard to say. I think, though, rather than an individual book, I would wish for more cultural diversity, especially in high school. I took a "World Literature in English" course in college and it was _such_ a revelation. I think the only non-American book we read in high school was Les Miserables. And, well, Shakespeare. Also the insights I got from my Victorian Novel course, especially about the rise of commodification and xenophobia and racism are very relevant and would do more good for young adults starting to vote and going out into the world than, like, The Yearling.

5: Do you think your life would have been different as a younger sister instead of an older sister?
I really do, yes. Throughout my life I've felt like... a trailblazer, to put it nicely (less nicely but more often I call it a guinea pig). My parents were learning how to be parents, I was learning how to be a kid and how to grow up, without even older cousins to serve as any kind of example. So I was/am very timid and unsure and with a sometimes paralyzing fear of Doing It Wrong. I think if I'd had someone to look to and follow, I would be confident - and therefore more capable - and more of a risk-taker. That coupled with my insatiable curiosity (currently tempered by aforementioned paralyzing fear) would have led to a _whole_ lot of mischief, yes, but also a lot of valuable life experience in general that I think I really missed out on, and without which I kind of feel handicapped now that I'm staring down the barrel of 30 and big-time, no-doubt-about-it adulthood.

I just learned that one of my oldest friends was in a serious car accident on Sunday (good2notbeking, you should be getting a similar phone call too). She's home with her parents now but apparently it was a very close thing (after she was pulled out, her car blew up). I'm sure there's still a lot of recovery to do, so if you could, please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Morgan and I are safe and sound in New Zealand. While I caught up on sleep I didn't get on the plane, she went swimming with fruitbat_mum. I think she wouldn't ever leave the pool if she could get away with it.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find allova waiting at the airport with Alan. Yay, friends! She and Morgan played with Morgan's reindeer toys from Starbucks while we drove her home, it was adorable.

Last night we (Alan and I) and clarieberry went to see Handel's Messiah, which was lovely. I'd never heard the whole thing before. Or even any part of it, actually, other than the Hallulejah chorus which everyone has heard. I actually liked the soprano soloist, which was surprising because usually I can't stand them (no, I'm not a bitter alto, why do you ask?), and the tenor was fantastic.

The weather is drizzly and overcast today but still warm, which is a vast improvement over home.

I took my car up the hill to our trusty family mechanic because it's doing funny things when it accelerates (and i have a very nasty suspicion it's a transmission thing). It's going to stay up there while I'm gone so they can do whatever needs to be done. So before I left town to do this, I called my brother to find out if he can drive me to and from work tomorrow. He said yes and we figured out when we need to be where, then he said, "hang on a sec," and handed the phone to someone.

female voice: Hi!

me: ... hello.

female voice: This is Megan!

me: Megan who?

Megan: {insert last name of super good friend from high school who kind of dropped off the face of the world and I always wondered where and how she was these days}

me: *inarticulate scream* ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!!

Rew in background: *laugh*

Megan: *laugh* yes I'm serious.

Turns out she's here - well, in one of the suburbs - and has a four-year old as well (all the cool kids are doing it!), and found Rew on myspace so he was at her house when I called him. Srsly I was about to turn my car around and drive to wherever they were. Oh. My. God. It will be so good to connect with her again.

Then after the car stuff I went and saw My Fair Lady at the Music Circus downtown (which was loverly), then came home and checked my email before getting a load of laundry done.


From: USCIS
To: janetlin
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008
Subject: Case Status Information for Receipt Number: buncha gobbledygook

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: buncha gobbledygook

Application Type: more gobbledygook letters and numbers

Current Status: Approval notice sent. (emphasis mine)

On August 6, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this {above referenced application type). Please follow
any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the
notice, call customer service.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case
status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from
USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS
Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at
www.uscis.gov under Case Status and Processing Dates.
*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.


Sincerely,


The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)


........ I..... um.....




EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

And other than that I'm still pretty much speechless. I forwarded it to Alan and he called me and we both just alternated stunned silence and giggling. So yeah.

*iz ded from squee*

I've heard from my friend Greg in Afghanistan. I was a bit worried because I emailed him back in _October_ to wish him a happy birthday, and never got a response. I think now my message might just not have gone through because apparently the Army filters out mail that doesn't have a subject (and I hate coming up with subject titles), because he responded quickly to the email I sent a few days ago. Turns out he was wounded back in December and had to spend some time in the hospital (yikes!), but is back on active duty now, and has been promoted to Major. He says he's got about another month before he comes home again. Then who knows when they'll call him up again. He's National Guard but apparently he has some skills they like so they keep sending him off.

We're playing email tag this morning, which is a bit surreal because it's what we used to do while I was at Cottey and he was working a desk job, so it's kind of like old times but also _not_. No going up to his place on the weekends for sword practice, or him coming down to help choreograph Tybalt & Mercutio's duel, and his armor now isn't the leather or chainmail he makes himself, and instead of a sword now he has a gun. And whatever pants they have him in probably aren't as nice as the tights he was wearing at the faire when I met him. ;)